Chapter 108: Changes

"Didn't you die?"

As he looked at Yamahiko in the distance, Isshin Shiba jumped up from the ground, staring at him with a look of surprise on his face.

Yamahiko smiled and said, "Captain Shiba, I didn't die. I escaped to the Human World and evaded Aizen's plot."

Isshin Shiba asked, "Wait, did you say it was Aizen?"

Yamahiko was about to speak when Kisuke Urahara interjected, "This topic is quite lengthy. Let's sit down and talk about it."

For the next half-day, Yamahiko recounted what had happened to him, including his suspicions about Aizen, being framed by Aizen, and his subsequent escape to the Human World.

Urahara Kisuke also revealed how Aizen framed him and used Shinji Hirako and others for experiments.

It took a full two hours to explain the whole situation and its implications.

"So it was Aizen's doing."

With this realization, Isshin asked, "But why did he target me?"

Yamahiko replied, "The first time I had contact with Aizen was when he created the Metastacia that attacked Miyako Shiba. The second time was when I was attacked by Lamierez. Both of these incidents were to test the abilities of the Hollows. The Hollow that attacked you, Captain Shiba, which was so powerful that even your Shikai couldn't defeat it, should be Aizen's new creation."

Urahara Kisuke nodded and said,"Moreover, ordinary Hollow attacks don't induce Hollowfication in people. Unless a mother is attacked while the child is in the womb, the child can possess a strange energy. So, this Hollow is different from all the Hollows I've encountered."

Yamahiko raised an eyebrow. What Urahara Kisuke said was exactly about Fullbringers. Could it be that he now had some understanding of Fullbringers? 

[Note: Fullbringers , are spiritually-aware Humans born with the eponymous ability Fullbring, which allows them to manipulate the souls that reside in all physical matter. Their powers are constituted by Hollow Reiryoku.]

Yamahiko didn't continue to inquire about this issue. Instead, he said, "It seems Aizen has new research, but we're not ready yet."

Isshin Shiba asked curiously, "What are you planning to do?"

Yamahiko's expression fell, and he replied, "Of course, to kill Aizen."

Isshin Shiba scratched his head and said, "But I've lost my Shinigami powers. I might never be able to use spiritual energy for the rest of my life, so I can't help you.

His Shinigami powers were injected into Masaki Kurosaki's body, so as long as she doesn't die, he cannot use his powers.

However, the Auswählen(Holy Selection) is scheduled to occur nine years later, and at that time, Masaki Kurosaki will be in danger.

Of course, Masaki Kurosaki's death isn't directly caused by the Auswählen(Holy Selection).

The Quincy, if not directly hit by the light of the Auswählen, won't die immediately. For example, several Quincy left on the ground by Yhwach managed to survive by hiding under the walls and weren't killed immediately.

For instance, Bazz-B, after the Auswählen, was still able to use his abilities.

[Bazz-B - Img]

Still, there's Kanae Katagiri(Ryūken Ishida's wife). After the Auswählen, she died three months later due to physical weakness.

[Kanae Katagiri - Img]

Masaki Kurosaki, on the other hand, was killed by a Hollow after suddenly losing her powers.

So, if he intervenes in time, maybe he could save Masaki Kurosaki.

Masaki Kurosaki's survival or death won't change Ichigo Kurosaki's birth, as Aizen is interested in Ichigo. Ichigo possesses the powers of a Hollow, a Shinigami, and a Quincy.

Upon sensing the presence of a Hōgyoku inside Rukia, Aizen will send Rukia to draw out Ichigo's Shinigami powers and then attempt to strike against Rukia when the opportunity arises.

However, thanks to Urahara Kisuke's assistance, Rukia's reiatsu was concealed, making it impossible for Aizen to find her. 

It wasn't until three months later that her whereabouts were discovered, leading to her trial and subsequent arrest by the Central 46.

Therefore, whether Masaki Kurosaki lives or dies, it cannot change the outcome for Rukia and Ichigo Kurosaki.

Yamahiko needs Ichigo Kurosaki's interference to attract attention openly while he covertly plans to assassinate Aizen. He aims to seize the opportunity of Aizen's betrayal to kill him.

This is Yamahiko's plan.

Therefore, the fact that Isshin Shiba cannot help him is the best help he could ask for.

Yamahiko smiled and said, "Captain Isshin, let's not discuss this matter. I have some questions I'd like to ask."

Isshin nodded and said, "Go ahead."

Yamahiko looked at Isshin Shiba and asked, "I want to know what was the cause of my death?"

Isshin Shiba smiled and said, "I thought you were going to ask about Suì-Fēng."

Yamahiko scratched his head and said, "I also want to ask about that, but there are many things I want to know, so I plan to save it for later."

Isshin Shiba smiled and said, "You were supposed to be killed by Tōsen after being Hollowfied. He has been treated as a traitor, with only Captain Komamura not believing in this result. But now it seems that Tōsen was actually a pawn thrown out by Aizen."

"Tōsen?" 

Yamahiko raised an eyebrow and asked, "Was he captured?"

Isshin shook his head and said, "No, he was killed by Suì-Fēng."

"I see." Yamahiko knew that Aizen's original intention was to have Suì-Fēng kill him, or to have him kill Suì-Fēng.

Looking at it now, Suì-Fēng has killed Tōsen, which has changed the plot.

However, Tōsen had been idle all along, with no significant impact on the plot.

Yamahiko asked again, "Besides this, has Aizen undergone any changes?"

Isshin Shiba replied, "No, he's still the captain of the 5th Division. Still blaming himself for not rescuing Captain Shinji Hirako in time. He hopes the Soul Society will punish him."

"He's really good at pretending."

Yamahiko knew that in the original plot, Byakuya Kuchiki went to kill Ichigo Kurosaki but let him off the hook, leading to Aizen blaming him in front of the other captains, implying that Byakuya was the mastermind behind everything(Soul Society arc).

Yamahiko asked a few more questions to make sure Unohana Retsu hadn't triggered his message, which meant she understood his message.

After asking about the details that needed attention, Yamahiko finally inquired about his friends, "Captain Isshin, how are Renji Abarai and Rukia Kuchiki doing?"

Isshin replied, "After your death, Renji Abarai trained vigorously and is now the Sixth Seat of the Eleventh Division. As for Rukia, she is still in the Thirteenth Division."

These two individuals were important to Yamahiko; they had saved his life and studied together with him. They were like his older siblings.

Yamahiko nodded and asked a few more people, learning that they were all doing well, which put his mind at ease. Suddenly, Shiba Kaien's name came up.

[Shiba Kaien - Img]

Shiba Isshin said, "By the way, Kaien has become the captain of the Ninth Division, and I was involved in his assessment."

"Kaien nii-san became a captain?"

Yamahiko's eyes widened, and he asked, "Did Kaien nii-san master Bankai?"

"Indeed, he has mastered Bankai, and it's very powerful."

Yamahiko was surprised to hear that Kaien had mastered Bankai. He wondered about the specifics of his Bankai.

He was already looking forward to returning and sparring with him.

Straightening up, Hiyori finally asked, "Captain Isshin, how is Captain Suì-Fēng doing?"

Isshin replied, "After you disappeared, Suì-Fēng was in a lot of pain. She didn't attend your funeral and didn't believe in your death. She became very sad, rarely speaking even during the captains' meetings. For almost ten years now, she has been rarely seen in the Seireitei."

Upon hearing this, Yamahiko felt guilty. He could imagine how much pain Suì-Fēng must be going through.

They had made plans to marry and have children together, but now she had to accept his departure. 

In Suì-Fēng's heart, Yamahiko would forever be gone. If Yamahiko found out that Suì-Fēng had died, he might have felt as if his world had collapsed.

'I really want to go back soon!' Yamahiko thought, his eyes turning red with emotion.

(To be continued.)

~End of the chapter~

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